Bone marrow-derived mononuclear cells promote improvement in glomerular function in rats with early diabetic nephropathy

Abstract

Background/aims: Diabetic nephropathy is one of the main causes of end-stage renal disease. The present study investigated the effect of mononuclear cell (MC) therapy in rats subjected to diabetic nephropathy.

Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into control (CTRL), diabetic (DM), CTRL+MC and DM+MC groups. Diabetes was induced by a single injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg, i.p.) and, 4 weeks later, 2×10(7) MCs were injected via the jugular vein.

Results: The rats in the DM and DM+MC groups showed increased glycemia, glomerular filtration rate and glomerular tuff area versus control groups. The glomerular filtration rate and glomerular tuff area were normalized in the DM+MC group. No alterations were observed in the fractional excretion of electrolytes and proteinuria between the DM and DM+MC groups. TGF-β1 protein levels in the DM group were significantly increased versus control animals and normalized in the DM+MC group. An increase in ED1(+)/arginase I(+) macrophages and IL-10 renal expression was observed in the DM+MC group versus DM group.

Conclusions: Bone marrow-derived MC therapy was able to prevent glomerular alterations and TGF-β1 protein overexpression and modulated glomerular arginase I(+) macrophage infiltration in rats subjected to early diabetic nephropathy.